Tube-to-tube reactor



Nov. 14, 1967 J, E. MCNAMARA 3,352,775

TUBE-TO -TUBE REACTOR Filed Feb. 15, 1965 fnventor: Jbh E. McNamara by 'W/ 4. i

United States Patent 3,352,775 TUBE-TO-TUBE REACTDR John E. McNamara, Schenectady, N.Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 432,659 4 Claims. (Cl. 204-313) The invention relates to an improved corona reactor.

The art has long recognized the advantages of treating various fluent materials, such as gases, liquids, semisolids, etc., in a corona discharge. According to common practice. gases are supplied to a confined chamber within which lie spaced electrodes. A corona discharge is established between the electrodes. Such apparatus suffers the disadvantage that the gas present in the chamber may not all migrate within the corona discharge for treatment and that the gas that does enter to corona zone may receive an unduly large energy input. In using a similar type of apparatus to treat a fluent material such as a liquid, the material is usually placed between the electrodes in a dielectric container, such as a beaker. While the liquid all lies within the corona zone, all the disadvantages of batch-type operation are encountered.

A popular apparatus for positively and continuously subjecting fluent materials to a corona discharge is the so-called ozonizerreflecting its most common usewhich consists of concentrically mounted electrodes. Fluent material is treated upon circulation through the annulus between the electrodes. While offering marked advantages over static reactors, the ozonizcr does not provide for suflicient mixing within the reaction zone to insure complete and uniform corona treatment. Further, ozonizers require recirculation of fluent material in order to achieve additional treatment. Still further, ozonizers are of fixed size and cannot be readily modified to meet varied operational requirements. Finally, failure of any portion of the ozonizer will render it completely inoperative and require expensive rebuilding of replacement of the apparatus.

It is an object of my invention to provide a corona reactor capable of positively and continuously treating fluent materials while insuring mixing and turbulence within the corona zone.

It is another object to provide a corona reactor which is readily assembled and disassembled, can be quickly adapted to varied corona requirements, and can be quickly and inexpensively repaired.

The e and other objects of my invention may be accomplished by providing a fluid guide with spaced electrodes of unlike potential mounted therein. At least one dielectric barrier is provided between electrodes of unlike potential to prevent arcing, and fluid to be treated is supplied to the guide so as to impinge the spaced electrodes.

My invention may be better understood by reference to the detailed description and drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a corona reactor,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an electrode assemy.

FIGURE 3 is a modified form of corona reactor, and

FIGURE 4 is a section taken along line 44 in FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a corona reactor 1 formed of a fluid guide or conduit 2 preferably formed of a dielectric material such as glass or quartz. Flanges 3 and 4 are formed integrally with the guide at the opposite ends thereof. Identical bell connectors 5 are mounted at either end of the guide. Each is provided with a fluid connecting arm 6, and electrical connecting arm 7, and a flange 8. The flanges 8 are sealingly engaged with the guide 2 through interposed seal assemblies 9. Each bell connector is held engaged with the guide by a pair of clamping rings 10 joined by tie-bolt assemblies 11. Electrical leads 12 and 13 enter each bell connector through electrical connecting arm 7 and are connected to electrode assembly 14 within the guide.

The electrode assembly, as shown in detail in FIGURE 2, is formed of end plates 15 and 16 joined by tie-bolt assemblies 17. Between the end plates the tie-bolt assemblies are covered with insulating sleeves 18. Between the end plates are provided two identical spacing plates 19. The spacing plates are joined by tie-bolt assemblies 20 provided with insulating sleeves 21. Each of the spacing plates is provided with three rows of apertures 22. As clearly shown in FIGURE 1, the apertures are arranged in a five-spot pattern. The end plates and spacing plates are formed of an insulating material such as ceramic, quartz, glass, etc.

Within the apertures are mounted electrode units 23. The electrode units are formed of a quartz or glass tube serving as a dielectric barrier and having one end closed and one end open. An electrically conductive electrode is positioned within the tube. The electrode may be formed of a metal bushing or sleeve. As shown, the electrode is a layer of conductive metal 24 adhered to the inside of the tube. In order to provide a convenient means of connecting an electrical lead to the adhered metal electrodes, a resilient connector such as 25 may be placed in the open end of each dielectric tube. The two outer-most rows of electrode units are mounted with the open ends of the tubes facing in the same direction, while the inner-most row of electrode units is mounted with the open ends facing in the opposite direction.

In order to hold the electrode units in position, abutment plates 26 and 27 are employed. Abutment plate 26 covers the interior edge of the outer-most rows of dielectric tubes. Abutment plate 27 covers the opposite ends of the outer-most rows of tubes. The inner-most row of electrode units is covered at one end by the abutment plate 26. At the opposite end, the abutment plate 27 is provided with aligned apertures 28 of-sornewhat smaller diameter than the dielectric tubes allowing insertion of the resilient connectors 25 but preventing removal of the electrode unit. Abutment plates 26 and 27 are joined to the spacing plates 19 by nut and bolt assemblies 29. The abutment plates are preferably formed of like insulating material as the spacing plates. While the use of abutment plates is convenient for handling the electrode assembly, it is apparent that such elements are not required for use of the apparatus.

The end plates 15 and 16 are formed of substantially the same diameter as the interior diameter of the guide. If desired, a sealing ring, not shown, may be interposed between the end plates and the guide to provide greater frictional contact to hold the electrode assembly in position and to restrain flow of fluent material between the guide and end plates. Electrical leads 12 and 13 connected to the resilient connectors pass through the end plates by way notches 30. Openings 31 are provided in the end plates for passage of fluent materials to be treated.

In operation of the corona reactor shown in FIGURE 1, a fluent material to be treated may be circulated through the reactor by means of fluid connecting arms 6. Usually, it is preferred to circulate the material to be treated for a period prior to actual operation in order to purge the reactor of air which may initially be present. After purging, electrical leads 12 and 13 are connected to an external electrical source.

Assuming the fluent material to be treated to enter the reactor from the upper-most bell connector 5 and to exhaust from the reactor through the lower bell connector, the material to be treated first impinges end plate and is directed through opening 31. Upon passage through the opening, the material impinges the electrode units, which successively divide and recombine the how stream so that a turbulent, thoroughly mixed fiow is obtained.

A corona discharge is maintained within the electrode assembly between adjacent electrode units of difiering potential. As best shown in FIGURE 1, an innermost electrode is equally spaced from four outer-most electrodes, and a corona discharge will substantially surround this electrode unit. Upon full treatment in the corona discharge, the treated fluid will exit from the electrode assembly through opening 31 in end plate 16 and be exhausted from the reactor through bell connector 5.

If during the operation one or more of the dielectric tubes forming an electrode unit should fail, the electrode assembly may be easily removed from the reactor and provided with a replacement electrode unit. Also, should it be desired to alter the character of the corona generated, replacement of the electrode assembly shown with an alternate type having more or less tubes of larger or smaller size may be easily accomplished. A certain amount of variation in corona treatment may be achieved merely by varying the number of electrode units placed in the available apertures.

While a preferred form of the invention has been disclosed and described, it is apparent that numerous modifications in the apparatus are within the skill of the art. One such modification is shown in FIGURE 3.

A corona reactor is illustrated formed of a bell connector 5, and at least two guides 2. A modified form of electrode assembly is shown positioned within each of the guide tubes. The modified electrode assemblies 41A and 41B differ from electrode assembly 14 in that the Spacing plates 19' are provided with only two rows of electrode units rather than three. Each row of dielectric tubes is provided with the open end facing an opposite direction, best illustrated in FIGURE 4. A second abutment plate 26 is used in place of abutment plate 27. As additional, optional elements, side plates 42 are positioned interiorly of insulating sleeves 18. The side plates are held in position between sleeves 18 and 21. The adjacent electrode assemblies 41A and 41B are shown connected in series. A parallel electrical connection could be employed if desired.

The operation of the modified form of reactor shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 is essentially similar to that of reactor 1. One difference is that the fluid to be treated is at least partially confined within the electrode assembly by the side plates rather than depending entirely on the guide for confinement as is the case in reactor 3. An additional difference is that upon leaving the first electrode assembly, at least a second electrode assembly must also be traversed before exit, thereby allowing additional treatment.

While an exemplary modification of the invention is shown, it is appreciated that numerous additional modifications may be undertaken in the application of the invention. Any means of mounting electrode units in uniformly spaced relationship may be substituted for the specific electrode mounting means shown. The number and arrangement of electrode units may be varied widely, except that all electrodes of unlike potential must be provided with the same minimum spacing in order to provide an evenly distributed corona. Although dielectric barriers are shown surrounding each electrode. it is only necessary that one dielectric barrier be present between any two electrodes of unlike potential. Further, it is not required that the dielectric barrier be contiguous with the electrode, nor is it material to the invention whether the ends of the dielectric barriers are closed or open. The barrier may be positioned at any point between electrodes of unlike potential. It is immaterial whether the corona reactor is positioned vertically or horizontally during use. Also, the number of reactors which may be joined in series or in parallel may be varied at will by the operator to provide the specific type of treatment desired. When side plates are used with the electrode assembly and the plates of the assembly are sealed together, the guide may be omitted, and the bell connector or other suitable connector joined directly to the end plates.

Still other variations may readily be envisioned by one skilled in the art. For this reason, it is intended that the scope of the invention be determined by reference to the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

I. A corona reactor comprising:

means capable of guiding a stream of fluent material during displacement through said reactor defining generally a flow path [or said stream,

an electrode unit including an array of first electrodes and second electrodes mounted within said guiding means and said fiuent stream so that said electrodes are transversely disposed to said flow path,

means mounted within said guide means capable of deflecting said fiuid during displacement including at least one dielectric barrier between said electrodes and cause substantially complete turbulence in said stream of fluid. and means for effecting a corona discharge across said first electrodes and said second electrodes. said first electrodes and said second electrodes being spaced from one another so that a corona discharge substantially fills the spaces between said electrodes and substantially surrounds said electrode unit.

2. A corona reactor according to claim 1 in which each of said electrode units is formed of a tubular dielectric bzirrier having an electrode positioned internally thereof.

3. A corona reactor according to claim 1 in which said first electrodes are arranged in a row spaced between adjacent rows of said second electrodes.

4. A corona reactor according to claim 1 in which said electrode array includes mounting means comprising:

a plurality of spacing plates having evenly spaced apertures,

end plates connected to said spacing plates and cooperating with said interior surface of said guide to mount said electrode assembly therein, and

a plurality of electrode units each including a dielectric tube and an electrode mounted within said tube, said electrode units being mounted within said spacing plate apertures to divide and recombine said lluent stream upon displacement through said guide.

References Gited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT K. MIHALEK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CORONA REACTOR COMPRISING: MEANS CAPABLE OF GUIDING A STREAM OF FLUENT MATERIAL DURING DISPLACEMENT THROUGH SAID REACTOR DEFINING GENERALLY A FLOW PATH FOR SAID STEAM, AN ELECTRODE UNIT INCLUDING AN ARRAY OF FIRST ELECTRODES AND SECOND ELECTRODES MOUNTED WITHIN SAID GUIDING MEANS AND SAID FLUENT STREAM SO THAT SAID ELECTRODES ARE TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED TO SAID FLOW PATH, MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID GUIDE MEANS CAPABLE OF DEFLECTNG SAID FLUID DURING DISPLACEMENT INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE DIELECTRIC BARRIER BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODES AND CAUSE SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE TURBULENCE IN SAID STREAM OF FLUID, AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING A CORONA DISCHARGE ACROSS SAID FIRST ELECTRODES AND SAID SECOND ELECTRODES, SAID FIRST ELECTRODES AND SAID SECOND ELECTRODES BEING SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER SO THAT A CORONA DISCHARGE SUBSTANTIALLY FILLS THE SPACES BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODES AND SUBSTANTIALLY SURROUNDS SAID ELECTRODE UNIT. 